The midfielder endured an injury-hit first season at the Etihad following his £15m move from Everton a year ago.

Rodwell made just six Premier League starts for City last season and has yet to make an appearance for his new manager this term.

But Rodwell says he is now fit, raring to go and desperate to force his way into the plans of both Pellegrini and England boss Roy Hodgson.

"It’s a little bit like starting again when a new manager arrives and you have to win him over," said Rodwell.

The midfielder struggled during his first-season at the Etihad making only six Premier League starts

Rodwell is hoping to impress new manager Manuel Pellegrini

“It’s a little bit like starting again when a new manager arrives and you have to win him over”

Jack Rodwell

"But that’s the same for everyone. The previous manager Roberto Mancini brought me here, and obviously I was a little bit sad to see him go.

"But that’s football. Obviously Manuel Pellegrini is a great manager and I’m happy to see him come in as well so everyone is in that position where they want to win him over and I’m no different.

"I think everyone feels it’s a fresh challenge more than anything. Everyone has come in and is trying to win the manager over which has brought a new lease of life."

England boss Hodgson is a fan of Rodwell and despite his lack of action for City included the 22-year-old in his squad for the summer friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

The former Everton man was sad to see Roberto Mancini depart the club at the end of last season

The 22-year-old is hopeful of gaining a place in the England squad for next summer's World Cup in Brazil

Rodwell came off the bench to play seven minutes of the 2-2 draw with Brazil in Rio to win his third cap for his country.

And that taste of action at the iconic Maracana has left the box-to-box midfielder desperate to get himself in Hodgson’s squad for the World Cup next summer - assuming they get the qualifying job done against Moldova and Ukraine next month.

Rodwell missed out on the squad this time for the World Cup qualifiers against Moldova on Friday and next week’s trip to Ukraine.

But he realises he needs to be playing regularly for City before he consider an international call - and that means ousting the likes of Yaya Toure, Javi Garcia and new signing Fernandinho.

"I definitely need to be playing a good amount of games and there is the World Cup with England at the end of the year and that is in the back of my mind," he said.

"That’s my main aim. I am 100 per cent focused and hopefully I can get on that plane to Brazil.

"Playing for England is something I dreamed about and in a World Cup would just be a fantastic experience for me as a player.

"At a club like City I don’t expect to be playing every game. But obviously I want to be playing and getting my fair share of games which hopefully I will do.

"I’d be foolish to think I’ll be playing every minute of every game at somewhere like City, with the players we have got.

"It’s 25-man squad where every player could pretty much walk into any other Premier League team. That gives you an indication of the strength of it. But I’ll be fighting for my place."